Yep it’s that time of year again – time to get your Garlic in. Personally, I love the fact that Garlic goes in the ground this early. It’s a great way to get you focusing on next year’s season even while this one hasn’t quite finished.
Sowing Garlic now means that you have to really think about what vegetables are going to go where in next year’s garden. You have to make room and be confident that that little patch of land can stay undisturbed until late Spring next year (when you harvest your Garlic) – it’s a big commitment! Of course if you’re undecided and need the extra thinking time you could always sow it in pots.
This year I’ve decided to try my hand at Elephant Garlic. I’ve seen the cloves on sale many times but never bought any. So when I saw some at the Malvern Show last week I took the plunge. They really are big! Hence you have to give them more room than normal Garlic. Plant them 4 inches deep and 6 inches apart (2 inches deep and 4 inches apart for normal Garlic).
Elephant Garlic is technically a wild Leek which may account for its milder flavour. As with all Garlic its best planted in Autumn as it prefers a stretch of cold weather. And ideally the ph of your soil will be around the 6 mark. Garlic doesn’t like acidic soils. But for me the best thing about Garlic is that the slugs won’t touch it! Of course there is a possibility that the evil white rot might appear again but I’m taking my chances.
The scores are in and the winner of the latest Photo Mission: First Signs of Autumn is Gaelen, with this gorgeous photo of Autumn Carrots. I love the colour, the shapes and the light. It’s what Autumn is all about in the kitchen garden. No doubt these little beauties will be good stored under some wet sand ready to use all Autumn long. Well done Gaelen and enjoy the lovely wicker cloches from Hand Picked.
The rest of the entries were of a similar high standard and I’ve picked the best of them for you below:
Patty Johnson sent in this amazing photo of her green Tomato harvest. Beautiful colours and great care given to composition here.
Here’s Rosa’s photo of some olives in her garden on the Amalfi coast in Italy. A reminder that not everyone’s Autumn is all ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’.
Debbie Webber’s seed pods made an appearance with Autumnal browns and creams. Lovely.
A perfect Pumpkin with a Nasturtium garland was Sally Cornwell’s choice. A great combination.
I love this entry. It’s entitled ‘Squash with Spartans.’ And why not eh? Murray Priestman, I salute you.
And lastly, our only black and white entry came from Shane Speck of his freshly picked Walnuts. Man I wish I had a Walnut tree!
Well done to all. Sorry I couldn’t post all of the entries. But thanks to everyone who entered. Here’s looking forward to our next Photo Mission.
On Sunday we went the Malvern Autumn Show. We had a great day out and saw lots of interesting things, so I thought I’d share some with you.
There were lots of gardening exhibits, show gardens and seed stalls. Chris Beardshaw did a talk and there was even a jazz band and stunt show! There was also lots of animals there, rare breed pigs, cows, horses and dogs. Including miniature donkeys! When I saw this though I had to take a photo of it; The Webb Miniature, a lawnmower for children. Ahhh… The Victorians – they didn’t have EU safety laws did they?
Above is the winning show garden in the ‘Good Life’ pavillion (ie the ‘grow your own’ bit). I thought it was very neat. Although, aren’t those ornamental Cabbages?
Above is the show vegetables stand from seed merchants, Thompson & Morgan. I’m always amazed at how decorative show growers can make their veg look. And how do you prepare Onions like that?
There were tons of colourful vintage tractors which kept the little (and not so little one) happy.
And the new thing on my ‘must have’ list – a vintage caravan. Some of them were just perfect, inside and out.
And the people who owned them looked like they were having such fun.
And of course, not forgetting this year’s ‘Young Farmer of the Year’ – who felt it was his job to inspect the harvest.
Particularly, since there was a rather smart looking tractor in the middle of the display!
